Arms and the Man - Poster

West Side Story

The students at the Welsh College of Music and Drama have been performing West Side Story over the past fortnight and last night was the final performance, so they gave it a bit of welly. And then some! Wow! It was one of those magical occasions when the audience has a perfect rapport with the cast and the magic of theatre creates a electric atmosphere that raises the whole performance to new heights. Of course, we all know the songs, veiled as they are for most of us in our younger romantic years and hearing them again, with the emotion of the story, I found the tears just pouring down my cheeks.

But it was just so well done. The choreography was perfect - perfect - the design could not be bettered, the energy of the boys and girls, who will in a year or two be taking their parts in West End musicals and in the Bill, Casualty or Coronation Street, was abundant, the singing, raw with feeling and deeper meaning, the orchestra superb, brassy, rhythmic, passionate.

At the end the 700 hundred seat Sherman rose in acclamation. A standing ovation and worth every thunderous minute and whistle. That is what live theatre is all about.

Lettice and Lovage

We shall now be reading 'Lettice and Lovage' at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 19 February (this being the preferred day). Everyone is invited. The play is a comedy by Peter Shaffer. Time: the present.

The venue will be my house - Llanquian House, St Athan Road, Cowbridge. For those that don't know it, this is a white house with dormer windows with a Citroen Picasso outside about 150 yards down from the traffic lights and on the left hand side of the road. Telephone is 01446-773874 Look forward to seeing you all there.

If you are interested in being a part of the production but can't come to the reading, please let me know. Subject to casting etc the production is planned for around 3rd week of July. It will go into rehearsal at the beginning of May. As before please extend this invitation to anyone who does not appear on the mailing list whom you think might like to come along. It would be helpful if anyone that hasn't told me already they would like to come, could let me know as soon as possible either by telephone or email pslb@mac.com

Peter SLB

How many ?

I do remember making an attempt to update the numerical list of CADS productions a few years ago, but we must have updated a few computers since then, because I simply can't find the info anywhere.
What memory I have left is trying to tell me that I sent copies to the relevant committee at the time, and I was wondering if anyone else might just have a PC version available - I though it would be good to bring it right up to date and print it in the next newsletter perhaps - or on this very blog, maybe, or both !
I would also be inspiring to know that "Arms and the Man" is production number xxx.

Value of new members

Even before she has appeared in a production for us it is gratifying to see the publicity generated for us by one of our newest members; my newspaper this morning has a substantial feature entitled " Adele a star is born" and we must hope that she manages to fit her obligations to us into what seems to be a very busy schedule !
It is also good to know that more contributors are to be welcomed to this colloquy although I observe that the cloak of anonymity offered by noms de plume has been drawn aside to reveal the identity of at least one contributor, where will this end ? are we being "blog-bugged" ?

Henslowe

New Authors Wanted!

Thanks for the below EuropaWorld. We have certainly had worse A.G.M.S!. It was brought to my attention at the meeting that work to update the Website was long overdue. I am still working on it along with sewing a multitude of costumes for "Arms and the Man".
It was also suggested that more authors were needed on the Blog. These come from invitation from the Adminstrator (me) and I am willing to invite anyone who is keen to post articles of general interest to members. Please send me an email and I will do the necessary: (brendagrove1@mac.com). It will certainly be good to have some more literary efforts with pictures too if possible as these liven up the Blog.

A whole week has elapsed and no-one has written about the AGM cum Burns Night supper (minus haggis) which conveniently whiled away the last Friday evening but one. Little happens at AGM's - at least not very often. People get elected, usually nem com and sometimes without their being there (though we do ascertain they will stand beforehand). Your Chairman therefore remains as does your secretary but at Treasurer there has been a reshuffle. Portfolios have been switched. The new Chancellor of the burgeoning CADS Treasury is Chris Bumstead, PSLB having decided after four years that it was time to hang up his calculator. He has been made publicity officer instead and will soon be writing to everyone.

After the AGM, we retired to the home of those well known purveyors of generous hospitality, Jim and Brenda Grove where Robert Burns was read in a variety of accents, and so, for some reason, was William McGonagall, (O beautiful bridge o'er the silvery Tay') who might well have commented thus.

It was on the 25th of January at seven thirty in the night
That members of CADS sat down to put their club to right
It was of course the time for the annual meeting
At which there was some laughter and not much weeping.

And after the Chairman had been duly elected
And last years minutes had been duly corrected
The meeting adjourned to premises warmer
Where we all drank some whisky and thought of the fauna.

Wee sleekit, cowrin' tim'rous beastie
What mad panic's in thy breastie'
Wrote Mr Burns when out ploughing he encountered a mouse
In a note that he wrote when he returned to the house.